Disk steel wheel



G. H. FUSYTH.

DISK STEEL WHEEL.

APPLICAHUN men Nos/.26.1918.

Panama Mall. 29, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHED l.

G. H* FORSYTH.

DISK STEEL WHEEL.

APPLIcArloN man Nov. 26. |913A Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

3 SHEES-SHEE 2.

G. H. FURSYTH.

DISK SEEL WHEEL.

WPHC/mon min Nov. 26, 1918.

Patentd Mar. 29, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GEORGE nronsrrrn. or onrcaeo; r'LLInois.

DISK STEEL WHEEL.

specification of Letterfratent.

Patented Mar. 11).;21.

Application led November 26, 1918. Serial No. 264,253.

To a-ZZ rwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE aaeitizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and ate of Illinois, have invented certain new and `useful lmprovements in `Disk Steel Wheels,

of which the following is a specification.

By reason of the growing scarcity of materials suitable for employment in the making of wood Wheels and the rapid deterioration of same under stress of Weather and liability to damage by rough usage, they are 'coming into disfavor; the wire wheel has many objectionable features inherent in its manufacture and employment; the steel `wheel of spoke or artillery type, while desirable from man points of view, is

` very expensiveV to manu acture; while the current types of steel disk wheels, if suii- Cienty strong, are heavy, unsightly, and lacking in resiliency or springiness by reason of the failure to utilize the metal t0 the best advantage for spring resistance to radial and lateral stresses.

The steel disk wheel is recognized as the type most cheaply constructed but it has not met with favor forother than heavy work, such as on trucks and the like, being undesirable on leasure cars for the reasons briefly in icated i above.` These wheels have, in general, embodied two disks spaced apart more widely at the center and approaching' each other peri herally near the oint of attachment to t e rim. This emp asizes optically the impression of heaviness and also sacrifices resiliency to strength, while, at the same time; failing to impart strength in the highest degree except as measured bv capacity to carry dead load as distinguishedI from resistance to laterally applied stresses resulting from s kidding, striking of curbs, etc. Where sing'le disks have beenl employed, they too usuall have been open to t e same obJections.

he primary object of the present invention is to .so re-design the steeldisk wheel as to:` retain or even to reduce its reco ized low cost of production; to increase its actual strength under stresses of use while reducing the 4actual weight;i andV at the .samel timeiirnparting an appearancafoflightness and symmetry compatible with 'the best appeering pleasure car.

Inox-der that the invention in its various aspects may be readily understood and appreciated by those sk1lled in theart, several H. FonsYTH,

embodiments of the invention are set forth hereinafter by Way ofl description and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.`

It will be readily appreciated, however, that tlie\ description and drawings are illustrative-only and are not to be taken in an unnecessarily limiting sense. In the drawin igure l. is a front View of a disk wheel embodying the invention, havin a portion of the disk broken away to il ustrate the driving connection therewith of the riin and the mounting of the valve stem: i

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

iFig. 3 is a similar section showing a modication;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of an adaptation to the clencher type .of tire;

Fig.` 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing a construction similar to that in* Fig. 2 with the exception that the rimas-' taining bolts are countersunk;

Y Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views showing other slight modifications of wheels of the sin le disk type; l

ig. 8 is a vertical section through a rim embbdying the invention and comprising double disks; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail section through the peripheral portion of the wheel iiiustraed in Fig. s but at a, different-gianni;

Fig. 10 isa sectional detail showing the disposition of the disks adjacent the;t hub portion;

Fi 11 is a fragmentary detail iii-section illustrating the mounting, of the valve stem 't Fi 12 is a front 4elevation of that form o Whee illustrated in section in Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; y

Fig. 14 is a vertical section illustrating a type of wheel embodyin the invention in which two remova le rim-retaining rings are employed;

Fig. 15 illustrates an adaptation of the form of construction shown in Fig. 14 to a clencher tire ;v

- detail sectionalview taken through the peri heral portion of the'wheel represented in ig.l 14 but at a-diil'erent' Fig. 18 is a similar section through a i iio wheel embodying the independently formed fel'ly portion in connection with disk portions formed of tempered spring steel plane sheet and'sprung into position, illustrating also an embodiment of central spacing construction of particular value in this type.

Having reference more particularly, in the first place, to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive of the drawings, the characteristic feature of the invention will be seen to be the construction of the wheel from a single pressed steel disk so formed as to resist radial strains and stresses on both sides of the plane of the tire, said disk being generally concave as viewed from the front of the wheel, the inner por'- tion of the disk adjacent the hub being shaped for assemblage with and inward radial bearing on the standard hub 21 having front hub plate 22 and rear hub plate developed into the brake drum 23 whereby no special designing of the wheel hub and related parts is necessary. The said disk indicated generally at 24 is shouldered at 25 to bearv against the annular wooden insert 26, occupying the space provided for spokes in the standard wood wheel, to which it is Sev cured by bolts 27. The disk is likewise rearwardly supported by the rear hub plate and is preferably shouldered at 28 to form an inner bearing support upon the brake drum 23 in the case of those wheels associated with a brake drum; where there is no brake drum this shoulder or bend 28 imparts additional spring or resilienc to the disk between its periphery and ub portion. Beyond the point 28 it bears forwardly to 29 and thence rearwardly and then radially to form a shoulder 3() as a bearing for the rimretaining ring 31 of ordinary' construction removably attached by means of theV bolts 32. From the shoulder 30 the disk is again pressed rearwardly transversely or radially as indicated at 34, being Vmarginally beaded as indicated at 35.

Thus far, the forms of construction illustrated in Fi 2 and 3 are substantially identical. i aving articular reference now to Figs. 2 and 5, t ou h present in other Afigures, that portion o the disk 34, is at intervals corresponding to the bolts 32 cupped forwardly to form pockets 36 having their inner walls 37 arranged closely adjacent but spaced from the rim-retaining ring 31 in order to render possible the utilization of short bolts 32. It Will be observed that the demountable rim 38 at those portions of the Wheel periphery corresponding to the pockets 36 rests adjacent its inner edge, upon the outer walls of said pockets as indicated at 29 most clearly in the lower part of Fi 2 and in Fi 5, and in that portion of t ie wheel peripery intermediate the pockets rests along its inner edge upon the beaded portion 35 of the Wall 34; whereas along the medial plane of the Wheel, there is a space between the outer wall of the pockets and the inner face of the rim, which permits a normal amount of yielding of the disk, limited by the eventual abutment -if the rim against the outer wall of the pockets Whereb to prevent injury to the disk by excessive eformation.

In Fig. 5 of the drawin rs is illustrated a ragmentar ortion of t e rim periphery 'illustrated in iig. 2, the only difference being that the rim retaining rin 31 is countersunk at the bolt holes as in icated at 31 in order to bring tlie nut of the bolt 32 substantially flush with the general plane of the ring.

.Having reference now to Fig.' 3 of the drawing, the beaded margin 35 of the disk is bent inwardly and instead of serving as a direct support for the demountable rim 38 :i ring insert 4() is provided of substantially the saine weight metal as the ring 3l. This insert is secured to the marginal portion ot th disk by riveting or spot welding, serving as an additional reinforcement against stresses and coperating with the ring 3l for supporting the rim 38. In this form oi' construction the pockets of Fig. 2 are omitted and a longer bolt 32 is employed for securingthe ring 31 in place.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, we have a form of construction adapted to support a clencher tire, the wall 33 of the disk servin` as a shoulder support for the inner flange members of tire-retaining elly members 41 and 42 which are secured together and to the disk at the Wall 34 by means of the bolt 43. The felly members 41 and 42 are countersunk along their medial portions to receive the inlay strip 44 to guard against the inner tube being pinched therebetween.

Referring to Fig. 6, we have the same general construction as is shown in Fig. 2, eX- cept that from the disk the shoulder 28 is 'omitted,the disk having no direct inner bearing upon vthe brake drum 23 whereby the spring action of the disk is extended from the points 29 to 25. Whether the shoulder 28 be present, as in Fig. 2, or absent, as in Fig. 6, this extendin of the spring action throughout the me ial portion of the wheel would obtain in the case of such of the car wheels as are not associated' with the brake drum. A further point of difference is that the insert 26 is of metal and the pockets 36 are omitted as in the case of Fig. 3 longer bolts 32 bein employed in connection with spacing thimb es 45.

In Fig. 7, the ring-retaining bolts 32 are connected directly to the wall 34, pockets be-v ing omitted, and outwardly of the wall 34 the disk extends rearwardly as indicated at 46 and then at an inclination at 47 and beaded over at 48. Here, as in some of the other forms of construction as for instance in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 8; that portion of the disk' which serves as a support for the inner edge rof the demountable rim is of slightly greater normal diameter than the inner diameter of the rim 38 or the ring 40 of Fig. 3, in order that the mounting of the rim or ring will tend to spring the marginal portion of the disk inwardly placing it under spring stress,

thus bringing about added resiliency of the wheel when assembled with the rim.

Furthermore, this design of wheel compensates for irregularities in rim diameter, utilizing the spring of the disk under the in Wardly Wedging action of the retaining ring 31 to secure a close fit of the stressed disk within the rim, and also the inner diameter of the comparatively unyielding rim 38 .or ring 40 serves to true any peripheral irregularities of the disk. This compensating and truing capacity of the wheel design, is large y contributed to by the fact that the rim retaining ring or wedge members 31 havel a reserve degree of lateral movement instead of abutting directly against a portion of the disk, and the opposed surfaces of the rim and disk peripheral portion are spaced apart or disposed at a slight inclination to each other.

It will be observed that the movement inwardly of the ring 31 imparts a resilient outwar'd thrust to the outer edge of the rim at the same timelthat the horizontal movement given by it to the rim reacts with the resiliency of the disk periphery to impart an outward thrust to the inner edge of the rim.

Thus far we have been dealing with wheels made of a single disk. `Disks of the general 'characteristics heretofore pointed out are also eculiarly adapted for use assembled conjomtly with a second disk as an added reinforcement where extraordina strains and stresses are to be antici ated, t e second disk coperating with an supplementing the first. 'In Fig. 8 of the drawing is illustrated a wheel, one disk and associated parts Yof which correspond to that illustrated in Fig. 7 and previously described. In addition to the first disk 24, however, a second disk 49 is employed havin a shouldered portion 50 for bearin upon the brake drum 23Lafter the manner o? the shoulder 28 of Figs. 2 and 3. The disk 49 bears forwardly in substantially parallel spaced relation to the disk 24 and adjacent the eriphery lies against the wall 34 of the rst disk, being advantageously secured thereto as by spot-welding or riveting, thus affording a double wall as an anchorage for the bolts 32. The Vdisk 49 then bears rearwardly beneath and in contact with the portion 45 of the first disk as indicated at 51, the margin of the second disk being received -within the'beaded portion 48 of the first disk. This juxtaposed relation of the second disk-and the wall 34 and the wall 45 applies only to the walls of the pockets formed by cupping at points corre` spending to the locations of the bolts 32 for .the purpose of reinforcing said walls at that point. Throughout the intermediate portion ofthe Wheel eripher the second disk 49 extends from t e shoul er 50 in' a substantially radial direction as indicated at 52 toward its -mar in where it enters within the lipped previously deportion 48 of the first disk as scribed. This is more clearly s own in Fi .9 which is a fragmentary vertlcal section ta en at a point in the periphery ofthe wheel inshoulder 55 on the disk 24 bearing on the A hub plate 22 to assist in su porting inward thrust and to protect the joint around the outer edge of the hub plate 22 against the admission of water or the like.

Fig. 11 shows a particular configuration of the pocket portions of the second disk 49 to accommodate the valve Stem 54 and' also shows the marginal deflection of the disk 24 outwardly instead of inwardly beneath the demountable rim 38.

In Figs. 12 and 13 are shown in front elevation and in vertical section a wheel wherein the first disk 24 is foruied throughout in substantially the same manner as that shown in Fig. 11. In this case, however, the bottoni wall 56 of the pockets 57 extends in a substantially radial direction, the disk 49 having its marginal portion beaded over as indicated at 35. As in Fig. 8, the bottom of the pockets are spot-welded to the first disk adjacent the opening for the bolts 32. If desired the disks 24 and 49 may be joined as by welding at 24.

Fig. 14 shows a form of double-disk wheel adapted to the employment of two rim-retainlng rings 31 arranged on opposite sides of the wheel to bear against the o posite edges of the demountable rim 38. Hiire the first disk 24 has the same configuration as the corres onding disk in Fig. 13 while the eriphera portion of the disk 49 is of simiar configuration to the disk 24, these disks extending in juxtaposed relation and aper tured to receive the bolts 32 the opposite headed ends of which engage the two rimretaining rings 31 and the outer marginal portions of both the disks being bent over in opposite directions to underlie the rim 38. At one point adjacent the valve stem the wall 49 is cupped forwardly to form a pocket giving access to the valve stem ias indicated at '58. If desired the disks 24 and 49 may be joined as by spot-welding at 24: and instead of the wood filler heretofore shown at the hub a circular metal channel support 49l may be employed.

In Fig. 15, the demountable rim 38 is omitted and therim-retaining ring31 'sub-Y ioI stituted by similar members 59` having their upper edges inturned to a greater extent to act as tireretaining flanges. In this form of construction the marginal portions of the two disks 24 and 49 are countersunk or channeled to receive the inlay strip 44. This same form of construction at a different portion of the tire periphery, that is to say intermediate the bolts 32, is illustrated in Fig. 16, juxtaposed portions of the two disks being connected iixedly together by the rivets 60. In Figs. 13 and 14 the out wardly turned peripheral edge or edges supporting thel rim are preferably slightly upwardly formed whereby after the rim has Y been placed in position there is introduced between the latter and the said peripheral edge or edges a spring engagement.

In Figs. 17 and 18, in addition to the two disks employed, entirely independent in their relation to each other, is illustrated a supplemental felly member of heavier metal serving to connect the marginal portions o the two disks and to support the rim. The felly member is indicated at 61. 1t has a configuration characterized by` marginal beads 62 and 63 for taking over the marginal portions of the two disks 64 and 65. It provides a shoulder for the bearing of the rim-,retaining ring 31 and also wfor the rear edge of the rim 38. ByA its use, it is rendered possible to use disks 64 and 65 of lighter metal than would otherwise be permissible.

The two disks 164 and 65 of Fig. 17 are in their medial portion of substantially the same configuration Aas those shown in others of the views as, for instance, Fig. 8.

Having particular reference, however, to Fig. 18, a form of disk is employedY both in front and to the rear which, associated and united by means of this felly member, enables the employment of highly tempered spring steel disks, whereby exceptional strength is obtained accompanied with great resiliency. Y

The forward disk 66 and the reardisk 67 are of slightly dierent diameter but otherwise the same. '1 hey are punched from a plane sheet of tem ered steel and are not formed in dished s a by a press, which would be impractica le. Theelly member 61 having been formed by rolling of relatively heavy metal, the disk 66 and the disk 67 are placed on opposite sides thereof and forced inwardly toward each other at their central portions` whereby they are sprung into cup shape and their marginal portions, originally held apart by the beaded margins 62 and 63 of the felly member, arecontracted so as to clear the beads and snap into the space formed thereby. They are then permitted to separate suiiiciently in their central portion to allow their margins to be forced outwardly under the spring of the disks as far as permitted b the felly member, by which they are hel under inwardly applied radial stress. Here they are retained by the inherent tension of the metal tending to resume its former plane. This forms a wheel of exceeding strength and resiliency, presenting a maximum of resistance to deforming strain and insuring a return of the wheel to its original shape after deformation.

As a particularly ciiicient method of assembling the disks and felly member in the 'relation above described, and holding the same in assembled relation, I arrange within the space between the two disks about the hub portion two teleseopically disposed cuplike plates 68 and 69, the inner wall of one and the outer wall of the other being threaded for mutual interengagement as shown. The inner peripheries of these two lates are provided with notches or holes 0 for engagement by a Spanner wrench or the like in order that they may be angnlarly adjusted relatively to each other. By turning these plates in one direction they are caused to approach one another and thus allow the central portion of the disks to be pressed together dishing the disks and reducing their diameter sufliciently to allow them to enter the beads 62 and 63 of the felly member. Havin done so, they are turned in the opposite irection, spacing the central portion of the disks farther apart and thus supplementing the spring tension of the disks in firmly seating the margins of the same within the beads of the felly member. Hereatter the plates 68, 69 constitute a filler member holding the plates in fixed relation at their centers and being themselves ,prevented from further relative movement by means of the bolts 27 uniting the hub plates 22 with the brake drum 23 and transxing the filler plates 68 and 69, which latter prevent any relaxing of' the spring stress of the disks due to the tightening of the bolts 27. Herein the valve stem 54 is made exteriorly accessible by passing through the disk 6T, and the ring-retaining bolts 32 have their heads 32 disposed within the space between the disk 67 and the elly member 61, being prevented from turning in the felly member hy the engagement therewith of a lygonal shank.

An interlocking driving connection hetween the fell member or portion of the disk and the rlm may be provided by forming depressions or elevations 71 on the former for engagement with the driving lug 72 oi the rim, as indicated, for example in Figs. 2 and 9. Obviously, instead of speeially provided elevations or depressions T1, the same interlocking relation to the driving lug may be had by disposing the lug in felly diete the pockets, also, the space between the disk portion 33 and the rim provides for the accommodation of the latching device of the two ends of the usual demountable rim.

I claim:

1. In a wheel, the combination with the hub and rim, of a pressed sheet steel disk having its inner portion secured to and bearing radially upon the hub, its medial portion forwardly concave, and its outer portion reversely bent to form a'felly,`the margin of the disk arranged at an inclination to form a rear rim-retaining bead, and a rimretaining ring adjustably attached to the forward peripheral disk portion opposite its beaded margin.

2. In a wheel the combination with the hub and rim, oi a single sheet metal disk having its inner portion secured to and hear-` ing radially upon the hub, its medial portion forwardly concave, and its outer portion reversely bent to form; a felly adapted to support a demountable rim, that portion of the disk adjacent the hub and felly being in front of and the intermediate portion inn the rear ofthe median plane of the wheel, and releasable means for holding the rim on the felly. l

3. In a wheel, the combination of a hub portion, a disk body having a peripheral overhanging felly portion terminating in an elevated marginal rim-supporting bead, the rovided in its medial portion with space projections extending radially slightly less than the height of the bead whereby to form a reserve rim sup ort as the bead yields under abnormal shoe 4. In a wheel, the combination of a hub portion, and a disk body having a peripheral' overhanging felly portion terminating in an elevated marginal rim-supporting bead, the felly cupped at intervals in the medial portion thereof to provide portions projecting radially sli htly less than the height of the bead, where y to form a reserve rim support as the bead yields under abnormal shock.

5. lIn a steel disk wheel for demountable rims, the combination of a disk body portion, and a rim carrying portion, the latter provided on its periphery with a series of separated rim sup orting elevations arranged to provide t erebetween in the medial plane of the wheel a clearance space for the accommodation of the usual driving lug and latch mechanism of a demountable rim.

6. Ina wheel, the combination with the hub and rim, of a sheet steel disk having its inner portion secured to the hub its medial portion forwardly concave, an its outer portion reversely bent to-form a felly, the margin of the disk arranged at an inclination to form a rear rim-retaining and supporting bead, said felly portion provided at intorvals inwardly of the bead with forwardlv cupped pockets, a rim-retainin beaded ring disposed on the forward side o the felly opposite its beaded ma bolts seated in the poc ets.

7. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, and a disk body peripherally offset to provide a felly for receiving a demountable rim, the felly provided on its periphery with portions spaced unequally from the inner face of the rim, the most closely adjacent of the portions serving as a rim support and the space separating the rim from the other of the portions serving to accommodate the usual rim latch.

8. In a wheel, the combination with the hub and rim, of a pressed sheet steel disk having its inner portion secured to and bear.- ing radially upon the hub, its medial portion forwardly concave, and its outer portion reversely bent to form a felly, the mar- -n, and ring securing gin of the disk arranged at an inclination to orm a rim-retaining bead, and a rim-retaining ring removably attached to the forward peripheral disk portion opposite its beaded margin, the disk having pockets formed therein adjacent the felly, the outer extremities or the pockets terminating radially a slight distance short of a rim mounted on the felly whereb to form an abutment to oppose undue yiel ing of the felly under radial stresses.

9. In a wheel the combination with the hub and rim, ot apressed sheet steel disk having its inner portion secured to the hub, its medial portion forwardly concave, and its outer portion reversely bent to form a folly,

the margin of the disk arranged at an inelif nation to form a, rear rim-retaining bead, l

the felly portion of the disk extending trans versely ofV the wheel toward the rear and then radially and terminating marginali in an inclined rim-retaining bead, said ally portion provided at intervals inwardly of the bead with forwardly cupped pockets, a rim-retaining beaded ring dis osed on the forward side of the felly opposite its beaded margin, and ring securing bolts seated in the pockets, the outer extremities of the pockets terminating radiall a slight distance within `a rim mounted on t e felly', whereby to form a reinforcin abutment to oppose .undue yielding of tle felly under radial stresses.

10. In a wheel, the combination with a hub portion, of a disk centrally secured thereto with its peripheral portion laterally bent and extending across the plane of imact to form a felly'with a rear marginal ead, the felly portion provided at intervals with inwardly concave pockets, a rim supported by its rear edge of the bead of the elly, and a rim-retaining ring fulcrumed with its inner edge on the diskand with its outer edge supporting the forward edge of the rim. i

11. In a wheel, the combination with a hub portion, of a disk centrally rsecured thereto with its peripheral portion laterally bent and extendin across the plane of impact to form a fe ly with a rear marginal ead, the felly provided at intervals with inwardly concave pockets having outwardly convex walls extending slightly above the general medial surface of the telly, a rim supported by its rear edge on the folly bead,

i an inclination to form a felly with a rear :marginal bead, the felly provided at inter-` vals with inwardly concave pockets having amaai.A

outer Walls projecting beyond the general surface of the elly and merging rear wardl into the bead below the extreme elevat1on thereof, the rim supported by its rear edge on the edge of the elly bead closely adjacent the outer walls of the pockets, and a ri1n-retaining ring f ul- Cruriled With its inner edge on the disk and with its outer edge supporting the forward edge of the rim, whereby the outer walls of the pockets form a reserve support for the rim under abnormal shock.

In testimony whereoi` 1 have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. FORSYTH.

Witnesses:

MARY C. Bnownn, FRANCES K. GILLESPIE. 

